I find myself looking out over 3000 feet of rusted steel catwalk and 875′ down upon the New River gorge. A harness cliches up between my legs and around my waist. A specially made trolley, carabiner and dog leash between me and the river below should I step off the catwalk. […]
Its 40 degrees and dark when I arrive at the whitewater rafting outfitters. I exit the truck to see my breath creating billows of fog when I breathe. I hear, oddly, a crowing rooster. He is getting an early head start on daybreak. I’m shivering and start to wonder what have I gotten myself into. Other rafters appear on the scene and quickly I realize I’m the more senior of the bunch. Picking raft mates that I may bond with seems to be mere luck of the draw, so I begin summing up the guides in hopes that I find one I’m comfortable with. […]